LOCAL NGO, Ithemba Lesizwe Feed a Child Community Kitchen, which was established in KwaNomzamo, Humansdorp, to feed families who were financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, is now hoping to receive more support to continue their good work in the community.
With the increase in job losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Alime Dayimani, together with Bishop Thembinkosi Dayimani, established the community kitchen in August last year, to feed children in their community.
Since its establishment, the soup kitchen has continued to provide breakfast for about 25 children each morning before school, and supper for children and adults on Tuesdays and Thursdays from their church, International Chosen Generation Fire Ministries, in Humansdorp.
“As leaders, we felt the need to start our soup kitchen and help our disadvantaged community, by giving back to it and ensuring that children did not go to bed with an empty stomach,” said Alime.
With money received from their church members and a percentage of their individual incomes, they have been able to sustain the soup kitchen for the last seven months.
In addition, occasional donations from soup kitchens in Jeffreys Bay and Sea Vista have helped greatly to ensure that there were enough ingredients to provide food for everyone.
“The beneficiaries of the food who are our people are very happy. The food we give them helps to ease and eradicate hunger in disadvantaged homes,” said Alime.
Since the organisation does not receive many donations, Alime said they had been experiencing many financial challenges and had to skip meals on days when they did not have any food to cook.
“We hate having to skip meals. It is not easy seeing those lovely kids being disappointed, because we know that we are their only hope,” said Alime.
“Going to school hungry can cause children to feel stressed because they are not able to remain focused. Providing them with a meal to eat in the morning before they go to school helps them focus and puts smiles on their faces.”
Alime said they were currently running this initiative with limited resources and fear that they might be running out of means to continue with the project.
“To continue helping those in need we hope and pray that our soup kitchen will receive more donations and support. We would appreciate any form of donations which include food parcels or vouchers to continue with this project,” said Alime.
- For more information, contact Alime Dayimani on 067 145 2259.
